Starting primary school
A guide to enrolling your child in a public primary school in NSW. Learn more about selecting a school, what support is available, and what to expect in the first term.
Primary school begins in kindergarten and goes to year 6. To enrol, children must:
- children can start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year.
- by law, all children must be in compulsory schooling by their 6th birthday.
Getting children ready to start primary school can involve many steps over an extended period. These include:
- understanding catchment zones
- how to choose and find a school
- immunisation requirements
- what to do (and when) for a child with disability or learning needs
- transition to primary school programs.
Once enrolled, there's after school care to consider, as well as:
- dealing with new routines
- playing your part with homework
- sharing safety information, particularly around pick-up time and location
- what's involved in becoming part of the school community.